Thursday, 7 March 2024

Land tax

Brad BATTIN (Berwick) (17:16): (575) My adjournment is to the Treasurer, and I ask for the Treasurer to meet with my local constituents the Fernando family and explain why the government will not reverse the cruel decision to place land tax on their primary place of residence. Mr and Mrs Fernando and their three children decided to move to the beautiful area of Clyde North, a rapidly growing community and a fantastic location to raise their children. Today I ask the Treasurer to support this decision and ensure they are not ripped off by this Labor government, who appear willing to take any dollar they can from hardworking Victorians, like the Fernandos, just to pay for the government waste and mismanagement.

The Fernandos do not and never have owned an investment property. Here is the time line of what occurred. On 10 December 2016 they signed a contract for land in Clyde North ready to build their dream. On 26 March 2018 the land settled. In 2018 they proceeded to view houses and moved to signing contracts with Ranshe Homes in Narre Warren. Just prior to signing those contracts to get the house constructed, Mr Randolf de Silva passed away. The family began the process to find a suitable home and builder for their property in Clyde North. They chose Smarthomes. Construction began on 14 February 2019. The certificate of occupancy was issued on 19 March 2019, and the family moved in within the next couple of weeks. All stamp duty, taxes, all rates et cetera have been paid up to date. The home has never been used to provide an income. It is simply a primary residence. The decision was given as there was no person living at the property – or on this land, which it was classified as – for a two-year period. The State Revenue Office issued a land tax bill, and the Treasurer will not reverse this. It is simply not fair.

Treasurer, please do the right thing and fix this mess. It is legalised theft, and only you have the power to amend this. If you cannot or will not make this change, I ask you to meet with the Fernandos. I will bring them into the Parliament for a meeting and you can explain to them during a cost-of-living crisis when they do not have spare money lying around why you want to keep ripping them off and not reverse this decision to put the money back in their pockets.

The SPEAKER: Member for Berwick, you will need to try to frame your adjournment matters so that you are not referring to ‘you’.